The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-21

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put now he has a pig shtore in der
Windsor Hodel. You know Chacob?"
Rochester thought he had met several
Chacobs in his travels but still denied
it. He did not know what subtle logi-
cal sequence might lie between ac-
craftsmanship with Chacob. and buy
ing a coat.
"Try dis on" said M~otzenhauser,
himself and wife grabbing the custom
er's hands.
He knew the dodge, and stepped
back just in time.
Thank you. won't try it on" he
said. Its too-too light" he added,
| at a venture.
The mates to it in six darker shades
were instantly forthcoming. Roches-
tier felt that he had put his foot into
it. He didn't know what to say.
"1mean it, too thin for the weather."
They held up their hands in astonish-
ment and waved them in horizontal
parabolas from the wrist joint above
their shoulders.
"Sufferin' Lazarus. You vos meier a
summer in Nyorick. Too tin. Wy,
you a something hefier as dot und
you purn to a CRISP"
I'm not going to be in New York."
| said Rochester.
We're you goin!"
"To-to Greenland"
He rushed out without more words.
Motzenhauser and his wife stared at
Rochester from the doorway and made
some kind of a sign to the street, for
the street was watching intently whcr-
ever it was not occupied ..inside." The
sign meant that he was a crank. The
street nodded, but still watched. The
crank was going into Katzenyammer's.
What would Katzenyammer do with
him? That was the question. :
Baxter street is like a.city of prairie
dogs. On ordinary occasions the patri-
arch dog is watching at the door of his
shop hole. The matriarch and the
progeny of various generations are
scattered about at short distances. As
you approach the hole the younger
ones dive in. The old n waits and
catches you, and inside is a reserve
force which can be called upon, suffice
ing for any emergency.
Katzenyammer was the acknow,-
edged king of the street. He would
sell a suit of clothes to a wooden In
dian. He would sell a man a tin watch
at the top price and make him think
he had got the Strasburg clock with
the cathedral thrown in. One winter
L. ,11l H. 49,, 20 La ST. - TT
Brooklyn and walked home on the ice
chuckling all the way over a profit of
500 per cent. What would Katzenyam-
mer do with himP That was the ques-
ton in which the street and five club
men were deeply interested.
But Katzenyammer's place showed
no sign of life. 1t was either unheard
of carelessness or a bold stroke of
genius. The historian is enabled to
state that it was the latter. Katzen-
yammer had not missed a point Of the
preceding encounters, and had his own
theory. Rochester saw the neglected
doorway, and argued f%avorably. He
would not be very much bothered in
that place, and he entered with a sigh
of relief. 1t was half lighted like all of
them. Katzenyammer was seated
quietly, smoking a long pipe. Two
young men and a woman were seated
about to bolster him up.
II want t price an o~vercoat," said
Rochester, thereby fatally committing
himself.
"a sphring ofercoad?" asked Katzen-
yammer, indifferently.
Yes"
Katzenyammer did not move.
"Vot brice?" asked he.
"Any thing under $15."
Katzenyammer smoked.
"Vat color?"
Rochester was a little nettled. "Any
neutral COLOR" said he. Something
that is light and will not show the
dust"
Katzenyammer considered. II don't
tink-" he began doubtfully. "You
wouldn't come in here foolin' Wit a man
and takin' up his dime ven you didn't
wand to buy no overcoads, would you?''
.sOf course not" said Rochester,
angrily.
.Show der chentleman a coad, 81.
mon," said Katzenyammer.
There were twenty-seven coats all
answering the description Rochester
had given and all his size. He exam.
ined one and refused it. With another
he did the same. Another would moi
do. Each time he had to find the
faults. Each time he was looked al
with sad suspicion. His ingenuity wa:
taxed beyond its limits. He was al
his wits end. There were twenty-foul
coats still to battle with and pretend te
find fault with. Rochester is conscien'
tious. That is his weakness. He
turned to silent Katzenyammer.
81 have changed my mind and viii
not buy IN o~vercoat to-day. I will,
however, pay you for you trouble and
time. How much is itP"
Katzenyammer knew it all the time
He smoked indifferently. His feeling.
were hurt.
"Vats der brice of dot coad, SimonP'
'fSix tollars."
Katzenyammer nodded at Rochester
Some people would not have done it
|, but Katzenyammer would have found
, weak spot in them, as he did in Roches
ter. The latter handed him Sc ant
!, then went meanly out.
The street was amazed. Katzenyam
mer had missed him; wonder of won
5 ders! The quintet was uneasy. Roch
ester's staying powers were a marve
entirely unexpected. Next door, how
ever, all was excitement.
1t was the chance of a lifetime, and
Hammerschmidt rose to it. The sal
was nothing; the prestige was all
, "K-vick! K-vick! K-vick!' the oil
. man cried in his excitement as he drov
l the representatives of four generation
into the back room. All depended no,
, IN Esther She cOu}d alone take th